30 drug users surrender to Iloilo town cops

Dozens of drug users in many parts of the country are surrendering to the police for rehabilitation. (File photo of the RadyoInquirer, courtesy of the Quezon City Police District)

ILOILO CITY — At least 30 self-confessed drug users surrendered to the police in Carles town, Iloilo.

The alleged users, all residents of the island-village of Asluman in Carles, were accompanied by their barangay (village) chairman, Abelardo Montibon, in surrendering to Chief Insp. Terrence Paul Sta. Ana, police chief of the town.

Sta. Ana said the surrender was a result of the effective police operations against illegal drugs that reached the island barangays of Carles.

He thanked the 30 for turning themselves in with the police.

“We will let them sign an affidavit of undertaking in the presence of their legal counsels to make sure that their rights are protected,” Sta. Ana said.

He, however, said the surrender would not erase their records of drug use and they would still be subject to monitoring to ensure that they would not lapse back into the vice.

The surrender came four days after a self-confessed pusher and six drug users surrendered to the police station in Anilao town in northern Iloilo.

Mayor Sigfred Betita of Carles expected more alleged users to surrender.

“At least three more barangays will facilitate the surrender of their residents who are into drugs,” Betita said in an interview with RMN Iloilo.

Betita assured the public that those who surrendered would be given training by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Technical Education Skills and Development Administration (TESDA) to help them find a living for their families.

A man who wanted to be identified as Boy said he turned himself in to show to authorities that he wanted to change.

“I want to change. I hope to have a better life. I am afraid to die. I promised I will never use drugs,”  Boy said.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte earlier said drug addicts who could not reform should be killed because they would only end up committing crimes and hurting other people.  SFM